About this course

Entry requirements

For the MSc programme you require a good Honours degree or its equivalent. For those whose first language is not English, a TOEFL or IELTS Certificate is required. Entry at Graduate Diploma level is possible for those with a reasonable first degree. Graduate Diploma students can upgrade to the Msc on satisfactory examination performance.
Learn more about entry requirements.
International students:
Academic requirements
We accept a range of qualifications, our country pages show you what qualifications we accept from your country.

Months of entry

September

Course content

This exciting programme is offered exclusively through the Institute for Conflict, Cooperation and Security (ICCS), comprised of a number of leading scholars in the field of security who regularly produce cutting edge, internationally renowned research. The programme is principally taught through three core modules involving an important mix of academic and practitioner input to immerse students in the politics of cooperation and conflict transformation.

Theories of Global Cooperation taught by Professor Nicholas Wheeler introduces students to a range of theoretical approaches drawing on International Relations scholarship and other cognate disciplines, to investigate both the obstacles to, and possibilities for, ameliorating intractable conflicts. These insights are then applied to an analysis of cooperation in multilateral security regimes to assess the potential for meeting today's urgent global security challenges.

Global Cooperation in Practice examines the practical application of the theories discussed in the first module through the prism of practitioner experience. This new module will be coordinated by Professor Mark Webber and will take the form of a series of guest lectures and breakout sessions delivered by practitioners with extensive experience of global cooperation.

Transforming Conflict in Global Politics involves intensive training by experienced practitioners in the field of conflict resolution over a unique on-site five day module. Participants will explore a variety of approaches and assess the possibilities for transforming particular interstate and intrastate conflicts, as well as the wider possibilities of promoting a global culture of non-violent conflict management. The module encompasses role-playing exercises aimed at simulating policy-making environments and challenges.

Our programme is specifically designed to equip students with the necessary training and tools to work in academic or policy-related contexts in the broad field of international cooperation and conflict transformation. Students on this programme will be well-placed to take advantage of career opportunities with a range of organisations including government agencies, international organisations, the armed forces, non-governmental organisations, think-tanks, the media, and multinational corporations. Furthermore we will be enhancing the student experience with dedicated competitive internships which will be geared, where possible, to the research interests of students.

Explore postgraduate study at Birmingham at one of our on-campus open days (Friday 13 November 2015 and Friday 4 March 2016). Register to attend at: www.birmingham.ac.uk/pgopendays

If you can’t make it to one of our on-campus open days, our virtual open days run regularly throughout the year. For more information, please visit: www.pg.bham.ac.uk